Watching on TV the Olympic figure skating team competition from Milan, I was asked by a friend why Russia was not participating. The answer, of course, is that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) sanctioned Russia for invading Ukraine in 2022, which was a clear violation of the primary Olympic ideal — the promotion of international peace and cooperation. While the IOC has allowed selected Russian athletes to compete, their flag and country are not represented at these winter games in Italy, as was the case for the 2024 summer Olympics in Paris.
One has to question how far President Donald’s Trump’s disdain for international cooperation and international law can go before the United States parachutes into the IOC’s crosshairs. Already a number of the administration’s actions and threats are arguably in conflict with the core IOC mission.
These actions include strikes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific that resulted in over 70 deaths without any due process; the invasion of Venezuela, a sovereign country, and the abduction of its president; and the withdrawal of the United States from numerous international organizations. Incredulous threats include a takeover of both Greenland and Canada.
While Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its war crimes have made it an international pariah, I wonder whether Trump and his vice-president, propelled by their myopic power makes right mindset, could push us into a similar position in the future.
Ray Ahearn
Holyoke